1
Kansas
This ranking is based on the Jayhawks returning two starters – Dajuan Harris and K.J. Adams – from a team that won the Big 12 regular-season title before securing a No. 1 seed in the 2023 NCAA Tournament. Bill Self has reshaped the roster with a top-10 recruiting class highlighted by former Michigan All-American Hunter Dickinson, former Towson sharpshooter Nick Timberlake, former McDonald’s All-American Arterio Morris and five-star freshman Elmarko Jackson.
6
28-8
2
UConn
This ranking is based on the Huskies returning four of the top six scorers from a team that won the 2023 NCAA Tournament – specifically everybody except Jordan Hawkins and Adama Sanogo, both of whom are expected to remain in the 2023 NBA Draft. That core combined with a top-five recruiting class should have UConn as a real contender to win back-to-back national championships.
1
31-8
3
Purdue
This ranking is based on the Boilermakers returning six of the top seven scorers – everybody except Brandon Newman – from a team that won the Big Ten regular-season title and the Big Ten Tournament before securing a No. 1 seed in the 2023 NCAA Tournament. CBS Sports National Player of the Year Zach Edey has a decision to make, obviously, but for now I’m projecting him to return to…..
